Elizabeth Dole on Drugs

Republican Sr Senator

Random drug testing for a drug-free transportation system

In a fatal Conrail crash in 1987, blood tests of the brakeman and the engineer revealed traces of marijuana. If the rail unions had had their way, those tests would not have been permitted. For 12 years the unions had stalled efforts to test workers for
alcohol or drug abuse. [After that crash], we finally succeeded in implementing the first drug-testing procedure of its kind in railroad history.

It came none too soon. Of the first 800 employees tested, 5.1% showed alcohol or drugs in their system.
This convinced me to undertake the most effective deterrent, random drug testing.

Public safety is a public trust. If you work in a cockpit or an engine room, you are responsible for the lives of your passengers. People expect and deserve a
drug-free transportation system.

Random drug testing is a sensitive issue. The idea wasn’t to fire employees but rather to help those with a drug-abuse problem break free of their dependence. What could be more sensitive?

Double the Mexican border patrol to keep drugs out

With the US-Mexico border as her backdrop, Dole today vowed to double the number of Border Patrol agents, not as a way to fight illegal immigration, but to block the flow of drugs from Latin America. She called for 20,000 agents instead of the current
9,000, and said, “Clinton/Gore continues to nickel-and-dime this agency and has not asked for a single new agent.” But a spokesman for the Border Patrol said it had hired more agents and updated equipment since 1994 under Operation Gateway.

Source: New York Times, p. A25
, Oct 8, 1999

End aid to Colombia until they wipe out narco-guerillas

Dole called the rebels who control a swatch of Columbia “narco-terrorists” and “narco-guerillas.” She said she would cut off all military aid to Colombia until the government there forced the rebels to evacuate the area. “We will fight along the border,”
Dole said. “We will fight on the streets; we will fight in our neighborhoods; and we will fight in our schools.” Though Congress has called on the Colombian government to reclaim the rebel-held area, it is hardly clear the Colombian army could do so.

Source: New York Times, p. A25
, Oct 8, 1999

Decertify countries who do not combat drugs

I will meet with all foreign leaders and encourage them to join us in the crusade for a drug-free America, but, if all else fails, I will decertify - in other words cut off aid to - countries that do not vigorously combat the drugs that are destroying
our communities and killing our young people. I will utilize all the law enforcement, military and diplomatic tools available to eradicate the production of drugs in foreign nations and choke off the flow of poison through neighboring countries.

Source: Associated Press, speech excerpts
, Oct 7, 1999

Use all branches of the military in Drug War

I will make every effort to encourage clergy, parents, teachers and communities to join us in the crusade for a drug-free America. In addition to increasing funds, I will task all branches of the military to fully engage in the war on drugs on land, at
sea, and in the air. Those drug traffickers unfortunate enough to make it to the American border will have to contend with the most advanced, well-trained, and efficient border enforcement this nation has ever seen.

Source: Associated Press, speech excerpts
, Oct 7, 1999

Aggressive public education campaign that drugs aren’t cool

Our teens are trying drugs because they think drugs are cool and because they don’t understand the dangers. To combat this troubling trend, we need an aggressive public education campaign to teach children that drugs aren’t cool and that people who do
drugs aren’t cool. That means using the bully pulpit to send the message day after day that drugs aren’t cool, they kill.

Source: Associated Press, speech excerpts
, Oct 7, 1999

Would “lead a crusade” against illegal drugs

Promised to “lead a crusade” against illegal drugs if elected president. Dole said, although polls show the issue of illegal drug use is “not very high on people’s priority list,” as president, she would push a campaign “that’s comprehensive and fully
funded where drugs are concerned. With leadership and the use of that bully pulpit, I think we can have a crusade across this country to remove and rid America of illegal drugs that are poisoning our children today,” Dole said.

Source: Martha Bellisle, Associated Press
, Aug 22, 1999

Reducing supply isn’t enough-we must blunt demand

No culture that allows the cancer of drugs to eat away at the freedom and the future of its young people will long endure. Let us resolve tonight that we will face the gritty and expensive reality of taking back our streets and blunting the suicidal
demand for drugs. Let us admit that it is not enough to urge foreign countries to reduce the supply of illicit drugs flowing into our neighborhoods. Let’s be honest with ourselves and our neighbors. There wouldn’t be a supply if there wasn’t a demand.

Source: DoleIn2000.com
, Jul 2, 1999

Passion for a drug-free America

The head of the DEA recently said, “The nation has neither the will nor the resources to win the drug war.” People tell me the polls show that drug abuse is not a priority issue. I believe we should make it one. My passion doesn’t come from polling. I
have a vision of an America free of drugs. [We must] support the hundreds of local anti-drug coalitions. And, yes, we must strengthen our interdiction efforts to stop illegal drugs before they reach our borders.

Source: Exploratory Cmte Announcement Speech, 3/10/99
, Mar 10, 1999

Applauds community-based fight against drug epidemic

We must choose to return safety to our streets and moral seriousness to our war on drugs. Drug use among our youth is up 141% among teenagers in recent years. I know, Senator Grassley, that you’ve put together an anti-drug coalition, called Face It
Together (FIT), which seeks to bring people together in a community-based approach to fight this epidemic; parents, students, businesses, our religious leaders, law enforcement, and the media. And I applaud you efforts.

Source: Speech at Iowa State University, 2/15/99
, Feb 15, 1999

Reduce demand for this “personal and national evil”

It’s not enough to urge foreign countries to reduce the supply of illicit drugs. There wouldn’t be a supply if there wasn’t a demand. The adults of America.must speak out again and again about this one simple fact: drugs are not cool, they kill. They
destroy families and neighborhoods and lives. At this moment when the number of Americans behind bars - most on drug-related charges - has never been greater, we must make absolutely clear that drugs are a personal and national evil that threatens us all

In favor of random drug testing.

Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use.

Dole co-sponsored requiring chemical resellers to certify against meth use

Sen. FEINSTEIN: This act is designed to address problems that the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, has identified in the implementation of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. The bill that I introduce today would:

clarify that all retailers, including mail order retailers, who sell products that contain chemicals often used to make methamphetamine--like ephedrine, pseudoepedrine and phenylpropanolamine--must self-certify that they have trained their personnel and will comply with the Combat Meth Act's requirements;

require distributors to sell these products only to retailers who have certified that they will comply with the law;

require the DEA to publish the list of all retailers who have filed self-certifications, on the DEA's website;

and clarify that any retailer who negligently fails to file self-certification as required, may be subject to civil fines and penalties.

The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act that we passed last year has been a resounding success. The number of methamphetamine labs in the United States has declined dramatically now that the ingredients used to make methamphetamine are harder to get. Fewer meth labs means more than just less illegal drug production. In 2003, 3,663 children were reported exposed to toxic meth labs nationwide--but so far this year, the number of exposed children is only 319.

This is a common-sense bill, designed to strengthen the implementation of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. This bill would create incentives to ensure that the self-certification process of the law is made both effective and enforceable. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.